The Eats Beat: McDaniel again named Beard semifinalist

8:27 PM,
Feb. 19, 2014

Alexander City chef Rob McDaniel

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Alexander City chef Rob McDaniel is one of several Alabama names that have made the James Beard Foundation's preliminary list of semifinalists for its 2014 culinary awards.

McDaniel, executive chef at Springhouse Restaurant in Alexander City, has now made the list for Best Chef: South for the second consecutive year. Birmingham's Highlands Bar and Grill was nominated for best restaurant, and Nick Pihakis of Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q was nominated for outstanding restaurateur.

There are 20 semifinalists in each category, and the field will be narrowed to five finalists when those are ...